Read our editorial mission (Opens in a new window) & see how we test (Opens in a new window). Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. But, unless you're really impatient, it's always safest to wait to upgrade until Apple releases the first point release, which typically arrives three or four weeks after the initial launch. If you already have a Mac dating back to 2010 (or a MacBook ( at Amazon) (Opens in a new window) or iMac from late 2009), an upgrade to Sierra gives you dozens of advantages-including faster performance-and, as far as I can tell, no major disadvantages. The biggest change is the addition of Siri, Apple's voice-activated assistant, now accessible from Mac laptops and desktops after a long residence on the iPhone and iPad.

If you've been using OS X for years, everything except the name in macOS Sierra will look familiar, though with notable improvements throughout. Now the newly renamed macOS joins iOS, tvOS, and watchOS in the tightly interconnected Apple ecosystem. With the advent of Sierra as a free download from the App Store, OS X is no more. When you upgrade your Apple computer to macOS Sierra, the hardest thing you'll have to learn is its name. Siri and Spotlight return different results.Many new features require premium iCloud subscription.How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad.How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages.

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